Lamp base and bulb assembly apparatus



July 31, 1962 c. TEREZ 3,046,635

LAMP BASE AND BULB ASSEMBLY APPARATUS fFiled March 7,. 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 PM 58 f5 1 55 ,4

E H I I 69 43 i 7 3a 0 H 53 I I2. i as I f I 23 Q 9 22 22 i 26- I I I m5 /2| I ea O I Inventor:

' His Atto ney July 31, 1962 c. s. TEREZ 3,046,635

LAMP BASE AND BULB ASSEMBLY APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1955 2 $hee tsSheet2 Inventor: Clarence S. Terez,

His Attorney United States Patent 3,046,635 LAW BASE ANT) BULB ASSEMBLYAPPARATUS Clarence S. Terez, Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 7, 1955, Ser. No.492,558 6 Claims. (Cl. 29-2519) My invention relates generally toapparatus for automatically assembling the base and bulb of an electriclamp or similar device.

More particularly, my invention relates to base threading mechanism of atype wherein a hollow threading needle is inserted through a base andthen lowered therewith to bring the end of a lead wire of the lamp intothe hollow needle, after which the base is threaded along the needle andthe lead wire onto the lamp bulb.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterreferred to above and of improved construction whereby it is caused tooperate with a substantially higher degree of success. In accordancewith one aspect of this object, it is a feature of my invention that thebase is caused to be, in effect, floated pneumatically to providefreedom for the base to adjust for alignment during ina support orholding means for a lamp which is to be supplied with a base;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the threading device; FIG. 3 is a planview of the threader;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the threading device showing therelationship of its operating elements during a stage of the threadingoperation;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation showing the relationship f the operatingelements at a succeeding stage in the operation of the device;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the operating elementsatthe moment of completion of the assembly operation; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, in section, of a modified means forproviding pneumatic floating of the base.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lamp bulb 1 is brought into operative relationto the threading mechanism by a holder indicated generally at 2 andforming part of a conveyor which carries the lamps from an exhaustmachine to a base machine, neither of which have been illustrated. Theholder 2 supports the lamp bulb 1 in a vertical position with its toplead 3 extending vertically upward in axial alignment with the lamp.

The base 4 herein illustrated is of a conventional type comprising ascrew-threaded shell 5 (FIG. 4) having an insulating web 6 of glass atone end in which is embedded a metal eyelet 7.

The base 4 is inserted, preferably by automatic mechanism not shown,into a base receiver chamber member 8 which is shaped to define adownwardly opening cavity mounted for vertical reciprocation on a post13 extending downwardly from a stationary support arm 14 which may bemounted on the frame of the conveyor 2. Movements of the slide 12 arecontrolled through a link 15 and arm 16 from an operating rod 17 whichis actuated by a cam mounted on the main cam shaft drive of theassociated basing machine. The arm .16 is pivoted at one end 17' to thelink 15 and at its other end (not shown) on a pin carried by thestationary arm 14.

The bottom of the cavity 9 in the base receiver 8 is closed by a pair ofjaws 20 with upper surfaces 20' defining a floor for the cavity andhaving their meeting faces shaped to define a conical lead wirereceiving aperture 18. The jaws 20 include vertically extending armportions 21 which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends on pins 22carried by the main slide 12.

A hollow threading needle 23 is arranged vertically above the basereceiver 8 with its lower end in an aperture 24 in said receiver and inalignment with the threading aperture 18 in jaws 20. The said needle 23is carried by a rod 25 which is slidably mounted in a bracket 26 mountedon a sub-slide 27 which is slidably mounted in ways 28 in the main slide12. The needle 23 and its rod 25 are normally held in their uppermostposition by engagement of the shoulder or hook'portion 30 of a latch 31with a finger 32 extending laterally from a collar 33 attached to theupper end of the rod 25. The latch 31 is pivotally mounted at 34 on apin in a bracket 35 mounted on the main slide 12. The latch 31 isnormally urged in a clock wise direction to a vertical position by aspring 36 carried by a screw 37 extending through the latch and securedto the main slide 12. V

The needle 23 and rod 25 are urged downward in the bracket 26 by aspring 40 connected between posts on the collar 33 and the bracket 26.The rod 25 is prevented from rotating by engagement of a notched portionof collar 33 with a post 41 (FIG. 3) extending upwardly from the bracket26.

The slide 12 is prevented from rotating about the post 13 by engagementof a slotted bracket 42 on slide 12 with a post 43 extending downwardlyfrom the arm.

In operation, a base 4 is loaded into the cavity or pocket 9 in the basereceiver member 8 and onto the floor defined by the upper surfaces 20'of the closed jaws 20. A suction is applied to the upper end of thechamber 9 through passages 45 (FIG. 2) and flexible conduits 46 tothereby lift the base 4 and bring its shoulder 11 into engagement withthe shoulder 10, the eyelet 7 being thus retained a short distance awayfrom the upper wall or roof 8' of the cavity.

The slide 12 is then moved downward through:oper-ation of the operatingrod 17 to carry downward the base receiver 8 and jaws 20. The needle 23also moves downward with receiver 8 and jaws 26' by virtue of africtional connection between the sub-slide 27 and the main slide 12provided by a friction pad 47 (FIG. 3) carried by subslide 27 and urgedagainst slide 12 by a spring 48 which is retained in place by screw 49.

Shortly after the downward movement has started, the needle 23 isreleased by'the latch 31 due to counterclockwise pivoting of said latch31 by engagement of a cam surface 50 thereon with a dog member 51. Thedog 51 is pivotally mounted at 52 on an arm 53 secured to the post 43,and is norm-ally retained in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a spring 54which is connected between a finger 55 mounted'on support arm 14 and apin 56 mounted on the dog 51 and held by said spring 54 in engagementwith the underside of the arm 53.

Upon release of the needle 23 and rod 2'5, they are pulled downward bythe spring 40 to carry the needle 23 through the base eyelet 7 to bringthe lower end of the needle 23 into engagement with a locating pocket 57formed in the jaws 20 at-the upper end of the threading aperture 18.

The base receiver 8 and jaws 20, together with needle Patented July 31,1962' 23, continue downward to bring the upper end of the lead-in wire 3into the aperture 18 and into the lower end of the needle 23, asillustrated in FIG. 4. At this time, downward movement of the slide 27is arrested by engagement of stop nut 58 with a lug 59 on arm 14, thenut 53 being mounted on a screw 60 attached to the upper end ofsub-slide 27.

Upon continued movement of the slide 12, the base receiver 8 continuesdownward to carry the base 4 along the needle 23, and the jaws 20 beginto move apart as illustrated in FIG. 5. The opening movement of the jaws20 is effected by links 61 each of which is pivotally connected betweena pin 62 on the respective arm 21 of jaw 20 and a common pin 63 carriedby the lower end of the sub-slide 27. The said links 61 are caused topivot by virtue of the fact that movement of the sub-slide 27 has beenterminated while the jaws 2% continue to move downward. In the closedposition of the jaws 2! a tight closure thereof is assured by a spring64 extending between posts on the jaw arms 21, there being sufficientplay in the connection of the links 61 to the respective pins to permitsuch action of the spring 64.

Continued downward movement of the slide 12 causes the base receiver'8to carry the base downward beyond the end of the needle 23 and alongthe'wire 3 and to deposit the base 4 onto the end of the bulb 1 asillustrated in FIG. 6. At this time, or just prior to the arrival of theslide 12 at its lowermost position, the vacuum connection throughconduits 46 to the cavity 9 is interrupted, and the base 4 is pressedfirmly onto the bulb 1 in proper alignment therewith.

During downward movement of the slide 12, after movement of sub-slide 27has been arrested, the latch 31 is carried therewith to bring itsshoulder 30 downward a short distance beyond the arm 32.

The threading mechanism is returned to its original position by upwardmovement of the slide 12. The subslide 27 moves along with the slide 12,carrying needle 23 therewith, until a stop nut 68 on the screw 60engages the underside of the lug 59. Thereafter, the shoulder 30 oflatch 31 is brought into engagement with the underside of finger 32 tocarry the needle 23 farther upward. During the short travel of the latch31 before engaging the finger 32, the base receiver 8 moves upwardrelative to the needle 23 to bring the end of the needle into theaperture 24 in the top of the base receiver 8. The latching position ofthe latch 31 is unafiected by the dog 51 which is pivotedcounterclockwise about pin 52 by the upper end of the latch 31.

The weight of the slide 12, and the elements mounted thereon, ispreferably partially counterbalanced by a spring 69 which is attachedto'posts on said slide 12 and on the arm 14.

I have illustrated in FIG. 7 a modified means of floating the base 4within the pocket 9 of the base receiver 8. In this case it isaccomplished by air jets through passages 70 within each of the jaws20', the passages being supplied with air pressure through flexibleconduits 71 to direct jets of air into the interior of the base 4.Compressed air is supplied through the conduits 71 when the base 4 isfed to the receiver 8, and the supply of air may be terminated justprior to the terminus of downward movement of the base receiver 8.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In combination, a holder for supporting a lamp bulb with a lead-inwire extending upwardly therefrom, and a base-threading mechanismcomprising a base-receiving chamber member open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receivin g aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery and ata position above and in alignment with the lamp bulb in said holder, apair of jaws mounted adjacent said chamber member to cover the bottomthereof meeting faces shaped to define a funnel-shaped wirethreadingaperture aligned with said needle-receiving aperture, a hollow threadingneedle mounted above said chamber in alignment with the needle-receivingaperture therein and with the wire-threading aperture in said jaws,means for applying a differential air pressure within the interior ofsaid chamber in a direction and amount to supply a flow of air to a basein said chamber sufficient to lift and float the base pneumatically atthe top of said chamber and off the floor defined by said jaws, meansfor lowering the needle through the said needle-receiving aperture andthrough the base in said chamber into registry with said wire-threadingaperture during the application of the differential air pressure wherebythe base is free to adjust slightly within the chamber to ensure entryof the needle therethrough, means for then lowering the chamber member,jaws and needle in unison to cause the lead-in wire to enter said needleby way of the said wirereceiving aperture, means for then causing thesaid jaws to open and uncover the bottom of said chamber member duringcontinued movement of said chamber member to carry the base thereinalong the needle and the lead-in wire and onto the bulb in said holder,and means for terminating the differential air pressure when saidchamber member has approached its lowered position.

2. in combination, a holder for supporting a lamp bulb with a lead-inwire extending-upwardly therefrom, and a base threading mechanismcomprising a base-receiving chamber member open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receiving aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery and ata position above and in alignment with the lamp bulb in said holder, apair of jaws mounted adjacent said chamber member to cover the bottomthereof and define a floor therefor, when closed, and having theirmeeting faces shaped to define a funnel-shaped wirethreading aperturealigned with said needle-receiving aperture, a hollow threading needlemounted above said chamber member in alignment with the needle-receivingaperture therein and with the wire-threading aperture in said jaws,means for applying suction to the interior of said chamber at its upperend and in a direction and amount to supply a flow of air to a base insaid chamber sufficient to lift and float the base pneumatically at thetop of said chamber and off the floor defined by said jaws, means forlowering the needle through the said needlereceiving aperture andthrough the base in said chamber into registry with said wirethreadingaperture during the application of the suction whereby the base is freeto adjust slightly within the chamber to ensure entry of the needletherethrough, means for then lowering the chamber member, jaws andneedle in unison to cause the leadin wire to enter said needle by way ofthe said wirereceiving aperture, means for then causing the said jaws toopen and uncover the bottom of said chamber member during continuedmovement of said chamber member to carry the base therein along thenedele and the lead-in wire and onto the bulb in said holder, and meansfor terminating the suction when said chamber member has approached itslowered position.

3. A base-threading mechanism comprising a main slide, means mountingsaid slide for vertical reciprocation, a base-receiving chamber membercarried by said slide, said chamber member being open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receiving aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery, apair of jaws pivotally mounted on said slide and arranged, when closed,to cover the bottom of said chamber and define a floor therefor, saidjaws having their meeting faces shaped to define a funnelshapedwire-threading aperture aligned with said needlereceiving aperture, asub-slide mounted on said main slide for vertical reciprocation relativethereto, a hollow threading needle mounted for vertical reciprocation insaid subslide above said chamber member and in alignment with theneedle-threading aperture therein and with the wirereceiving aperture insaid jaws, means for moving said needle downward through the saidneedle-receiving aperture and through the base in said chamber intoregistry with the wire-receiving aperture in said jaws, and means toapply a differential air pressure within the interior of said chambermember in a direction and amount to supply a flow of air to a base insaid chamber sufiicient to lift and float the base pneumatically at thetop of said chamber and off the floor defined by said jaws duringmovement of said needle downward through the chamber member.

4. A base-threading mechanism comprising a main slide, means mountingsaid slide for vertical reciprocation, a base-receiving chamber membercarried by said slide, said chamber member being open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receiving aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery,- apair of jaws pivotally mounted on said slide and arranged, when closed,to cover the bottom of said chamber and define a floor therefor, saidjaws having their meeting faces shaped to define a funnelshapedwire-threading aperture aligned with said needlereceiving aperture, asub-slide mounted on said main slide for vertical reciprocation relativethereto, a hollow threading needle mounted for vertical reciprocation insaid subslide above said chamber member and in alignment with theneedle-threading aperture therein and with the wirereceiving aperture insaid jaws, means for moving said needle downward through the saidneedle-receiving aperture and through the base in said chamber intoregistry with the wire-receiving aperture in said jaws, and means toapply a difierential air pressure within the interior of said chambermember in a direction and amount to supply a flow of air to a base insaid chamber suflicient to lift and float the base pneumatically at thetop of said chamber and off the floor defined by said jaws duringmovement of said needle downward through the chamber member, thelast-named means including suction means connected to passages in saidchamber member opening into the upper end of said chamber at a locationwhereat the mouths of the openings are spaced from the base so as to beunobstructed by the base during its flotation at the top of the chamber.

5. A base-threading mechanism comprising a main slide, means mountingsaid slide for vertical reciprocation, a base-receiving chamber membercarried by said slide, said chamber member being open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receiving aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery, apair of jaws pivotally mounted on said slide and arranged, when closed,to cover the bottom of said chamber and define a floor therefor, saidjaws having their meeting faces shaped to define a funnelshapedwire-threading aperture aligned with said needlereceiving aperture, asub-slide mounted on said main slide for vertical reciprocation relativethereto, a hollow threading needle mounted for vertical reciprocation insaid subslide above said chamber member and in alignment with theneedle-threading aperture therein and with the wirereceiving aperture insaid jaws, means for moving said needle downward through the saidneedle-receiving aperture and through the base in said chamber intoregistry with the Wire-receiving aperture in said jaws, and means toapply a differential air pressure within the interior of said chambermember in a direction and amount to supply a flow of air to a base insaid chamber sufiicient to lift and float the base pneumatically at thetop of said chamber and oif the floor defined by said jaws duringmovement of said needle downward through the chamber member, saidlast-named means including air pressure means connected by passages insaid jaws opening upward toward the interior of the chamber member todirect air jets into the interior of a base therein. a

6. A base-threading mechanism comprising a main slide, means mountingsaid slide for vertical reciprocation, a base-receiving chamber membercarried by said slide, said chamber member being open at its bottom andincluding a roof having a needle-receiving aperture therein and sidesadapted to enclose a base at least partially around its periphery, apair of jaws pivotally mounted on said slide and arranged, when closed,to cover the bottom of said chamber and define a floor therefor, saidjaws having their meeting faces shaped to define a funnelshapedwire-threading aperture aligned with said needlereceiving aperture, asub-slide mounted on said main slide for vertical reciprocation relativethereto, a hollow threading needle mounted for vertical reciprocation insaid subslide above said chamber member and in alignment with theneedle-threading aperture therein and with the wirereceiving aperture insaid jaws, means for applying suction to the interior of said chambermember at the top thereof and in a direction and amount to create a flowof air to and around a base in said chamber sufiicient to lift and floatthe base pneumatically at the top of the chamber and off the floordefined by said jaws, means for moving said main slide downward, meansconstraining said subslide to move downwardly with said main slide,means operable upon the initial downward movement of the main slide toeffect downward movement of said needle relative to said sub-slide tocarry it through the needlereceiving aperture in said chamber andthrough a base therein into registry with the wire-receiving aperture insaid jaws during application of said suction, means for subsequentlyterminating downward movement of said subslide, and means connectingsaid jaws with said sub-slide and operable upon the termination ofdownward movement of said sub-slide to eifect separation of said jawsupon continued downward movement of said main slide together with thechamber member therein, and means for terminating the suction when thechamber member has approached its lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,698,987 McGowan Ian. 11, 1955 2,720,690 Mullan et al. Oct. 18, 19552,748,450 Flaws et al. June 5, 1956

